Net



Feb. 12 1924.

R. R. BELKNAP NET Filed ma 10 1917 2 Sheets$heet 1 [hue/1507 Feb. 12 1924;

R. R. BELKNAP NET 2 Sheets-Shoot z 1 Filed May 10 1917 fhveqzor.

Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

REGINALD It. BELKNAP, OF UNITED STATES NAVY.

NET.

Application filed May 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REGINALD R. BEL- KNAP, an ohicer of the United States Navy, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nets, and, in order that others skilled in the art may understand and practice my invention, give the following specification thereof, of which the accompanying drawings form a part.

The object of my invention is to provide a net that may be used for a variety of purposes, including more particularly its use as a defense against submarine boats and torpedoes. Another object of my invention is to provide a net of such construction as to give it greater flexibility, uniformity of strength, facility and compactness of stowage and facility in handling and transportation. Other objects will appear from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawing 1 have illustrated one form of my invention, in which Figure 1 represents a general view of a square-mesh net,

Fig. 2 represents a portion of a net having the mesh diamond-shaped,

Fig. 3 is a detail view on a larger scale of the crossing point of the wires or corner of a mesh,

Fig. 4c is a modification,

Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of one form of a stop and method of securing it on the wires,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on lined-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a view of another way of securing the stop to the wire.

In constructing a net in accordance with my invention, I provide a flexible or yielding connection at the corners of the meshes or at the junctions or crossings of the ropes or wires that make up the net and its attachments. I obtain such flexible-or yielding connection by providing a ring or link 1, preferably of forged steel, that surrounds the crossings or junctions of the wires; that is to say, each of the crossing or meshing wires 2 and 3 is threaded or passes through said ring so as to make a loose connection, both wires and the ring being loose and not connected to one another, each wire or ring being free to move and adjust itself to a detail on similar scale of a 1917. Serial No. 167,825.

limited extent independently. To retain the parts in relative position and at the same time to provide for freedom of relative movement, I provide on each wire 2 and 3 the stops 4:, a and i, a. The two stops l, l on a vertical wire are so arranged as to be at some distance apart and on opposite sides of the ring 1. Also, the two stops 4', 4 on the horizontal wire are similarly positioned and arranged one on each side of the ring 1. These stops, as will be understood, are of a size larger than the internal diameter of the ring; or, if the ring he elliptical or l'.shaped, are larger than the greatest internal diameter of the ring, the object being, as will be apparent, to prevent the wires slipping through the ring in either direction more than the limited amount determined by the distance the stops l, l or 4: a are placed apart, respectively, on their wires. For example, the amount of slipping or movement in either direction may be an inch or two, allowing for a play of some three inches,this being, however, merely an illustrative example.

The stops 4, 4! may be made in any suitable or convenientmanner. They may consist of forged steel clamps made either in separate or hinged halves, as in Fig. 7, the two halves that form one stop being riveted or otherwise clamped together and also to the wires or ropes that constitute the net. Or, they may be made of a tough, tenacious alloy of a comparatively low melting point and may be molded directly on the wire, as

in Fig. 3. In order to insure the stops 4 or 4: on the wires from displacement, I mav transfix themto the wires by means of pins 5, 5, thrust between the strands, as

seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Two such pins ar-' ranged transversely one to the other are shown in the drawing as securing one stop 4; but it will be understood that only one such pin ma be used if desired, or any suitable number. If the stop be cast upon the-- wire, it may be cast about such pins; or, if a previouslyformed stop he used, perforations may be provided therein and the pins inserted therethrough and driven between the strands. The object, as will be understood, is to firmly secure the stops to the wires against displacement.

It will be understood that such ring and stop connection will occur at each corner of the meshes of the net, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the ring being in the midst of four stops on the crossing wires and surrounding both wires at the point of crossing or intersection.

This form of loose and flexible connection between the wires forming a net may be employed with advantage at other points than at the'mesh corners, as for example, where the mesh wires are connected to either or both the top and bottom edge or selvage wires 3, 3*, or to the end wires 2, 2". At such points a wire terminating at a selvage or end wire may be provided near its end with two stops similarly secured to the wire and arranged one on either side of a ring 1. Such ring 1 will surround the end wire 2 between the stops 4, 4 thereon, and will also surround the selvage wire 3*.

At the top wire of a net the stops 4', 4 are arranged and fixed on the wire at inter vals that correspond with the size of the mesh (Fig. 1) and similarly for the end wire 2. The vertical wires may have their upper ends eye-spliced or eye-clamped, as shown, and connected to the top wire through rings or links l that are intermediate two stops 4; this ring being interlinked with the eye-splice and surrounding top-wire 3 between two stops 4:, 4. The rings 1 may also befurther interlinked with other rings 6, the latter being used for the attachment of buoys, moorings towing lines, &c.

Instead of having the vertical wires eyespliced at their ends, a free-end construction may be employed, as illustrated'in Fig. 4. In this form of construction the end of the wire 2 is provided with the spaced-apart stops 4, 4, between which and surrounding wire 2 is the ring or link 1", the latter also surrounding wire 3*, and also interlinked with ring or eye 6. The advantage of such free-end construction is that it reduces or eliminates the liability of the net to kink, twist, and spring, that tends to accumulate in the several wires, and in the net asa whole with handling, setting, &c.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the constituent wires of a net'made in accordance with my invention are not interwoven or interlaced one with the other, but are separate and disjoined though held securely in their relative positions to form the fabric by the rings or links that surround the wires at their crossing or junction points.

By means of my invention a net may be formed ither of rectangular mesh, as illustrated in Fig. 1,or with a diamond mesh, as illustrated in Fig.2. Ina net of the former kind the wires may be continuous throughout the length and width, respectively, of

the net and 'the net may be as long as desired, the longitudinal wires being continuous throughout. This avoids the necessity of splicing or joining the wires with the advantage of securing greater uniformity of strength and avoiding weakness and other objections of splices or joints. For example, a net of 36 feet width or depth may be made as long as desired in one section, the longitudinal wires being arranged, say, 12 feet apart and crossed every 12 feet by 36 feet lengths of the same wire, thus making a mesh 12 feet square. The ends of the crossing or vertical wires may be eye-spliced or eye-clamped, and the top and bottom longitudinal wires roi'e through the eyes. here the wires cross both. wires are rove through the steel links, with a stop secured on each wire each side of the ring and at such distance apart as to allow freedom of movement between the wires at this junction 0r intersection, as before explained.

In .making a net with diamond meshes, vertical wires may be eliminated and all wires ma 7 be made of equal length and continuous throughout the not, thus making for uniformity of strength and readiness in as .sembling and manufacture.

One of the important advantages of a not made in accordance with my invention is the facility with which it may be collapsed, stowed and handled. It will be seen that if taken up by one corner, or if pulled at diagonally opposite corners, it will collapse like a handkerchief or an umbrella, and may be coiled and carried on a reelthe most compact form for stowage, handling and laying. The joints or crossings of the wires are sufficiently loose and flexible to permit the wires to lie-approximately parallel with in the rings and at the same time to permit the same to lie at any angle with each other up to 90 degrees without bend or nip. The rings also lie approximately parallel with the wires when the net is collapsed.

This increased flexibility of my improved netnot only makes for facility in handling and stowage, but materially increases its draping or fouling effect about a submarine or torpedo.

A net-constructed in accordance with my invention is also less expensive to construct and .is lighter, size for size, than nets of other construction. Also, my net is simpler, andrequires less time to construct or manufacture. There are fewer and smallerprojections and consequently there is less fouling or liability to catch .or snag as the net is dragged over the side or deck of a boat in planting or laying.

'VVhile I-have referred to the advantages of a net constructed in accordance with my invention for naval purposes, it will be understood that there are many other uses in which my invention is valuable and for which a net is commonly employed,- whether for a barrier or where a net is required to be temporarily erected on land or 1 ,asepaa to be collapsed and transported, or where a net may be required to he quickly manufactured. It will be seen that in order to manufacture one of thenets no factory or shop appliances or machinery is necessary. All that is required is a supply of wire or rope with a stock of rings or links and stops or means for casting or clamping or forming or afiixing the latter to the wires. With these and simple hand appliances or tools, nets may be readily constructed and in places remote from shops or factory facilities.

It will be understood that modifications from the exact form and shape 01" the rings and stops and their engagement with the wires shown in the drawings may be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A net formed of separate or disjoined wires. stops on said wires on either side of their crossing or junction points, and rings surrounding said wires and co-operating with said stops to hold said wires in their relative positions.

2. A. net formed of free lengths of wires crossing one another at intervals corresponding to the meshes of the net, stops on each of said wires arranged one on each side of their crossing points, and rings or links surrounding both wires at their crossing points and intermediate the stops on both wires. l

3. Means for connecting the constituent wires of a net, said means consisting of a pair of spaced-apart stops on the wire and a ring or link loosely surrounding the wire between said stops, whereby the Wire is capable of movement within the ring, said movement being limited longitudinally of the wire by the engagement of the stops with the ring.

4. A not formed of free lengths of wires arranged crosswise of one another in nieshforming relationship, rings or links separate from said wires and loosely surrounding both wires at the crossing or junction points and permitting said wires to move angularly with respect to one another, pairs of spacedapart stops fixed to or formed on said wires, one stop of said pair being on each side of a crossing or junction point and each side of the said ring thereat, whereby the constituent wires of said net have freedom of longitudinal movement limited by the engagement of said stops and rings.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REGINALD R. BELKNAP. Witnesses HENRY V. BUTLER, J. B. EARLE. 

